MANY COLOURS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 165, 14 July 1928, Page 14

MANY COLOURS.

A POLITICAL PATCHWORK.

OPPOSITION RIDICULED.

"GOVERNMENT FEARS NOTHING."

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, Friday

When the no-ci>nfidcnce motion was lost in the House this afternoon by 14 ■votes to 48 it was remarked that Mr. H. At more. Independent member for Nelson, was the only non-Labour member who voted against the Government. When the Minister of Education, the Hon. R. A. Wright, addressed the House early in the evening he went out of his way to refer to Mr. Atmore'a attitude Inwards the Government, observing that ho fancied he saw the writing on the wall.

"Was the hon. member for Nelson coquetting with Labour?" asked Mr. Wright. He had changed his front. Not so very long ago no man denounced the Labour party more strongly than the member for Nelson.

Mr. T. H. Armstrong (Christchurch East): He improves with age. Mr. P. Eraser (Wellington Central): Growing intelligence. (Laughter.i

Mr. Contes (facetiously): You should be the Inst one to talk about that!

Mr. Wright: I think there is more than age in it. I think he is ffoing over to the Opposition. The member for Nelson said in this House that the Labour party was not so red now they had bleached. Perhaps they will bleach so much in his opinion that he will go right over to them. The Hon. W. Nosworthy: He's gone palo pink. United Party's Tactics. Later Mr. Wright attacked the new I'nited party, and as soon as he mentioned the name Mr. Eraser interjected, "Leavo them alone. They voted with you." Mr. Wrifslit: I'm talking about a party outside this House. The United party have been guilty of making incorrect and misleading statements. First we were told that some Reform members were poing over to the United party, and one newspaper went so far as to say that a score were going over. Not one Reform member has deserted to that party.

Mr. Wright added that a party that had to build itself up by misleading statements about its opponents would not obtain the confidence of the people. Mr. Fraser: I wish that was true. A Curious Oppoiition. Mr. Wright then referred to a Press statement published outside Wellington, irt which the United party put it forth that Sir Alexander Roberts, who was the Dominion's Commissioner at the Wembley Exhibition, and Mr. W. D. Hunt, were likely candidates, and that Air. D. S. Smith, who recently accepted an appointment to the Supreme Court Bench, was at one time a prospective candidate. That message had been Rent out with a view to misleading people in outside centres. If published in Wellington it would have been contradicted. The party that resorted to would get nowhere. "It appears, too, that the United party has no leader," continued the Minister, who went on to deny Mr. J. A. Lee's allegation that Mr. C'oates was a skipper without storm strategy. Mr. C'oates had excellent control of the ship of State, and difl know where he was steering. He would bring the barque into port safely after the next election, and all his crew would be on deck. Mr. Wright said it was a curious. Opposition that faced the Government. Tho Leader of' the Opposition: That part of it which votes with Government is very curious. Mr. Wright: First of all we have the official Opposition, led by the Labour member for Duller. That is a tolid party, fourteen strong. Mr. J. McCombs (Lyttelton): And they vote against the Government. Mr. Wright: Then there is the, United party (laughter), led by the member for Hurunui, Mr. Forbes. Mr. McCombs: Yes, and they vote with the Government. Mr ..Wright: Sometimes. A Coat of Maay Colours. "Jacob had a son called Joseph, and he made him a coat of many colours," said Mr. Wright. "We have something like that in this House. First there is the official Opposition, and that is as red as ever it was. Mr. Fraser: Did you say it was as red as when you wore it years ago. (Laughter.) Mr. Wright: Next, there is the party of which Mr. Veitch is leader, and that is white, emblematic of innocence and purity. Then the member for Nelson, who is pale pink and is drifting—unconsciously, it may be—towards the Labour Opposition. Mr. V. H. Potter (Roskill): He is dyed. Tho Government had nothing to fear from an Opposition that was at sixes and sevens, Mr. Wright averred. The Opposition could not present a solid front, and would not embarrass the Government at the general election. It would be found that the Prime Minister would return to power again and the whole country would be glad to see him back.